Business Recycling and Organics

Overview

Effective July 1, 2012 State law requires businesses that generate four cubic yards or more of waste per week or multi-family residential dwellings (complexes) of five units or more to arrange for recycling services. With the passage of this Mandatory Commercial Recycling law (Chapter 476, Statutes of 2011 [Chesbro, AB 341]), California is one of the first states in the nation to enact a statewide program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by diverting commercial solid waste from landfills. AB 341 also establishes a state-wide goal to divert 75% of solid waste away from landfill by the year 2020.

According to 2008 Statewide Waste Characterization data, the commercial sector generates nearly three fourths of the solid waste in California, with much of the materials that are disposed of by the commercial sector being readily recyclable.